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 Introduction
Procida is the smallest and oldest island in the Bay of Naples and is, like Ischia, of volcanic origin. The island of Procida is part of an archipelago of islands called the Partenopee, comprising of Procida, Ischia and Capri. Procida is situated in the Gulf of Naples, between Ischia and Capo Miseno. Procida is joined by a small bridge to the much smaller island of Vivara, to the west.
The island derives its name from the Latin name Prochyta. According to another theory, the name comes from Prima Cyme, meaning “near Cuma”. Yet another theory says that “Procida” comes from the Greek verb prokeitai, meaning 'it lies forth', because of the appearance of the island seen from the sea.
Arrival By Plane
The nearest airport is at Naples. The International Airport of Capodichino is connected with the most important airports in Europe and with the international airport of Rome (Fiumicino) and Milan (Malpensa and Linate).
By Train
The nearest Railway stations are at Naples. There are four available railway stations to reach one of the harbors of Naples:
Napoli Campi Flegrei- From this station it is easy to reach the harbor of Mergellina by taxi, bus, tram or underground. Mergellina is approximately 3 km from the railway station.
Napoli Mergellina - This station is more or less 200 m from the harbor of Mergellina.
Napoli Centrale or Napoli Piazza Garibaldi- Both stations enable you to have an immediate access to Piazza Garibaldi, which is around 4 km from the harbour of Napoli Beverello and easily reachable by taxi, tram or bus.
By Car
From Roma (A1)
From Bari (A16)
From Salerno (A30)
It is better to follow the road markings for the “Tangenziale” (bypass) (exit No. 12) and to go on towards Pozzuoli. Then leave at Via Campana (exit No. 12) and go on towards the Harbour of Pozzuoli (Only ferries), which is about 4 km.
You can also reach the harbour of Naples Beverello (both ferries and hydrofoils).
By Ferry
Ferry service is available at reasonable prices from Naples, Capri, and Ischia.
History and Culture
Procida was held by Mycene in the period between the 16th and 15th centuries B.C. During the 8th century B.C. the first Greek settlers to this island were immediately replaced by other Greek peoples coming from Cuma. During Roman rule, Procida became a renowned resort for the patrician class of Rome.
Middle Ages
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the Byzantine reconquest in the Gothic Wars (6th century), Procida was remained under the jurisdiction of the Duke of Naples. The continual devastation first by the Vandals and Goths, and later by the Saracens, pushed the population to resettle in a fortified village typical of medieval times. The population was sheltered by a cape, naturally defended by walls that peak on the sea that were later fortified, thus acquiring the name of Terra Murata, (Walled earthwork).
Testimonies from this period are from those who manned the watchtowers on the sea, which became the symbol of the island. With the Norman conquest of Southern Italy, Procida experienced feudal dominion; the island, with a mainland annex (the future Mount of Procida), came under the control of the Da Procida family which continued to hold the island for more than two centuries. The most famous member of the family was John III of Procida, counselor to Emperor Frederick II and leader of the revolt of the Sicilian Vespers.
In the 1339, the fiefdom, together with the Island of Ischia, was handed over to the Cossa family, of French origin, loyal followers of the Angevin dynasty then reigning in Naples. Baldassare Cossa was elected Antipope in 1410 with the name of John XXIII. In this period a deep economic transformation of the island began, as agriculture was slowly abandoned in favor of fishing.
Modern era
During the rule of Charles V the island was granted to the D'Avalos family. Pirate raids continued during this period. Particularly notable was one in 1534, led by the infamous Turk admiral Khair ad Din, better known as Barbarossa.
In 1744 King Charles III made Procida a royal game reserve. In this period the Procidan fleet reached its zenith, backed by a period of flourishing shipbuilding. The population rose to approximately 16,000. In 1799, Procida took part in the revolts that led to the proclamation of the Neapolitan Republic. With the return of the Bourbon dynasty a few months later 12 Procidans were beheaded.
The Napoleonic Wars brought several episodes of devastation due to the island's strategic position in the naval engagements between French and English. In 1860, after the fall of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the island became part of the newly formed Kingdom of Italy.
The 20th century
The 20th century saw a crisis in Procidan shipbuilding due to competition with industrial conglomerates. In 1907 Procida lost its mainland territory, which became independent and is commonly called the Mount of Procida.
In 1957, the first underwater aqueduct in Europe was built in Procida.
In the last few decades, the population has slowly begun to grow. The economy remains in great part tied to the marine industry, although the tourist industry has also grown.
Churches and Museums
The old town of Terra Murata developed around the Benedictine Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo (St. Michael the Archangel) founded in 1206 on a pre-existing religious complex which belonged to the 5th century. But it is believed that this location has always had a religious function since from the antiquity and that here was a temple dedicated to Neptune the Agriculturist, a particular representation of the sea god that combined two complementary aspects of life in Procida: fishing and agriculture, both essential to the population.
Historical buildings and monuments
The Avalos Palace, also named the Castle, is the first landmark you see coming from Naples by ship. It rises on the edge on the steep cliff of tufa, apparently isolated but it hides on its back the whole old centre of Terra Murata. The Avalos, noble and powerful family from Spain, had the feudal domain over Procida since the early years of 16th century and ruled the island up to the Bourbons came in 1734. In 1563 the Cardinal Innico of Avalos started the construction of the Palace and of the defensive walls around the Terra Casata, in the context of a general town planning that provided also for the displacement of the gates and the roads leading to the fortress.
The House of Belvedere
It is a typical example of the Procida building manner, so that it has been saved from demolition done in the Fifties because of the landslides of the cliff. On the ground floor, which is marked by irregular arches supporting part of the upper floor, there are the rooms designed for community use as workshop or storage. An external stairway rises to the upper floors where the private rooms are located . The first flight of the stairway is covered; the following is at open air. The narrow and covered entrance allowed the owners to have a better control over people who came, avoiding sudden entries by unwelcome guests. Internal rooms follow each other lengthwise, since against blind lateral sides they were leant the adjacent houses.
Places of Interests
The Terra Murata (Walled Land) is the old centre of Procida. It belongs to the Middle Ages and was for a long time the only inhabited centre of the island for security reasons: in fact it is located on the highest promontory of Procida, about 90 meters high, with the cliffs rising steep from the sea. The name is derived from the ancient division of the island in some areas called “Terre” (Lands): there was the arable land, the grazing land, the planted land, the vines land; and finally there was the “Terra Casata” (Houses' Land), where they collected all the houses for a better common defense. In the 16th century, when the entire old centre was fortified, the adjective defining the Terra changed from Casata (Houses) to Murata (Walled), and it have kept this name till now.
Marina Corricella
Up to 1500, the whole population of Procida was concentrated in the old centre of Terra Murata. During the 16th century, under the Spanish reign, it began a period of peace and population increase (the Saracen forays decreased too) which induced the people to occupy also other places in the island. The first inhabited area was the seashore underlying the Terra Murata, named Corricella, where they settled mostly the fishermen, while the sailors gathered on the village of Sancio Cattolico on North, where it was built the harbour. The initial activities in the Corricella were the excavations of caves in the cliff for sheltering the boats, and then they built the first houses.
Beach of Chiaia
Beyond the Marina Corricella, going on southwards along the east coast of Procida, we find the cove of Chiaia, with the tufa cliffs rising steep from the sea and only a small strip of sand at their foot. In Neapolitan dialect, Chiaia means “beach”.
Sancio Cattolico
By the name of Sancio Cattolico we indicate the area of the harbour in Procida, on the north-east edge of the island. The origins of the name seem to belong to the 10th century when, after the first forays by Saracene pirates, the inhabitants from the west shore of Cape Miseno moved by order of the Duke of Naples to the isle of Procida, believed more secure for the presence of the old town of Terra Murata. The refugees, who settled on the coast in front of Cape Miseno, named that place “Santo Cattolico” (Catholic Saint), abbreviated into dialectal “Senteco”.
Events
It is based on a tradition going back to the end of the 17th century. In the procession, the young males of the island, dressed in the traditional dress of the “Confraternity of the Turchini”, carry allegorical wagons (called “mysteries”) of religious character for a fixed distance, from the village of Torre Murata to the port of Marina Grande. The “mysteries”, often highly artistic, are prepared by the young people and generally nobody except them would have, at least in theory, seen them before the procession. After the procession, they are taken apart or destroyed.
The Procession of the Apostles of Holy Thursday - Day before Good Friday
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Procida Travel Guide
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